Package locator

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supporting and positioning bagged products and the like including a portion for supporting and positioning the neck of the bag and another portion supporting the bagged product. In preferred embodiments, the portion supporting and positioning the neck of the bag includes a slotted member and the portion supporting the product includes a cradling means at the forward or neck end of the product and other means impinging against the far end of the product to prevent it from sliding out of position.

United States Patent Reid 5] Oct. 24, 1972 [54] PACKAGE LOCATOR 2,924,924 2/1960 Garapolo et al ..53/ l 12 B 72 l t Phili L. R id L ,S.C. men or p e yman Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee [73] Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co., Duncan, SC. Attorney-John J. Toney, William D. Lee, Jr. and Ed- 22 Filed: Dec. 14,1o70 Hanmm [21] App]. No.: 97,746 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for supporting and positioning bagged [52] U.S. Cl. ..53/393, 53/112 B, 53/ 138 A, products a th like including a portion for support- 211/13 ing and positioning the neck of the bag and another 511 1111.131. ..B65b 65/00 Portion supporting the bagged Product In Preferred [58] Field of Search ...53/393, 112 B, 138 A; 211/13; embodiments, e p rtion supporting and posltloning 29/211 D the neck of the bag includes a slotted member and the portion supporting the product includes a cradling 56] References Cited means at the forward or neck end of the product and other means impinging against the far end of the UNITED STATES PATENTS product to prevent it from sliding out of position.

5/1959 Palmer et a]. ..53/138 A X 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBCT 24 I972 sum 2 0F 2 FIG;

FIG. 7

FIG.

FIG. 6

PACKAGE LOCATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supporting and positioning bagged products and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to positioning the neck of a bag and supporting the bagged product adjacent thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By an aspectof this invention in a preferred form thereof an apparatus is provided for supporting and positioning bagged products. The apparatus has a first end means that supports and positions the neck of the bag than encloses the product and a cradle means that supports and positions the intermediate portions of the bag. In its preferred form a second end means supports and positions the outer or closed end of the bag. The first end means preferably includes slot means that include two slotted elements that are spaced apart so that the bags neck is held in gathered condition at two areas and exposed therebetween for closing.

By another aspect of this invention in a preferred form thereof a method is provided for positioning and supporting a bagged product. The method includes gathering the neck of the bag at two spaced apart areas and leaving the neck exposed therebetween. In addition, the bagged product is cradled beyond the gathered neck areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the supporting and positioning apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1 of another specie of the supporting and positioning apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1 of yet another specie of the supporting and positioning apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another specie of the supporting and positioning apparatus.-

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 showing its engagement with a bagged poultry product in phantom line.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 showing its engagement with a bagged poultry product and the end of a clipper for straddling the bags neck in phantom line.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a clipped and heat shrunk bagged poultry product.

DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Looking first at FIG. 1, a specie of the invention of this application is shown. The apparatus 10 has a first end means 12, a cradle means 13 for supporting and positioning the intermediate portions of a bag and a second end means 14 for supporting and positioning the end of the bag opposite to or furthest from the open neck end of the bag. The first end means includes two slots 15 and 16. Slot 16 is in a first slotted element 18 and slot 15 is in a second slotted element 19 which together make up the slot means for positioning the bag neck. The slotted element 18 includes two arms 20 and 21 and a bight portion 22 which joins the arms together. Theslot19 includes two arms 24 and 25 and a bight portion 26 which joins them together. The two slotted elements 18 and 19 are spaced apart with a dimension admitting a bag closing means therebetween as shall be further described hereinafter. The two slots 15 and 16 in the spaced apart slotted elements are aligned and dimensioned to hold the bags neck suspended therebetween in gathered condition.

The cradle means 13 includes two downwardly bowed rods or bars 28 and 29 suspended from side support rods or frame members 30 and 31. It may be seen that the cradle means portion of the apparatus 10 is at least partially below the slot elements 18 and 19 and their slots 15 and 16.

The second end means 14 includes a second cradle means formed by the generally downwardly bowed shape of rods 34 and 35 as they extend from the side support rods 31 and 30 to the central support beam 36 which provides an intermediate means 38 supporting the bagged product between the first cradle means 13 and the second cradle means or end means 14. The second end means 14 also includes a raised element 40 which together with the cradle means supports and positions the end of the bagged product. It should be observed that the outer end of the bagged product supporting region of the locator 10 where the rod 31 junctures with the rod 34 is slightly raised above the forward end where the rod 31 junctures with the lower portion of the rods forming the outer part of arm 21 of element 18. It should also be observed that while portions of the apparatus 10 have been described as rods or bars because they resemble rods or bars, they are in actuality composed of formed wire material, some of which is continuous between the various specified rod and bar parts. Other wire sections are adhered together by appropriate means such as brazing. Besides the parts already described, additionalsupporting or strengthening members may be necessary such as support rods 42 and 44 and strengthening rod 45.

It inay in summary .be seen that the apparatus 10 provides a bagged product support means including the first cradle means 13, the intermediate support means 38 and the second cradle support means 14 which broadly includes the raised element 40. This bagged product support means is beyond the first slotted element 18 with respect to the other slotted element 19 and the first cradle member or portion 13 is adjacent to the closer element 18 and the second cradle 14 is beyond the cradle 13 with respect to the element 18.

The apparatus 10 is particularly adapted for use in supporting and positioning a bagged product with respect to vacuumizing and bag closing means such as those shown in the copending application Disclosure 691 of Reid, Calvert, Roberts and l-Iolcombe and assigned to the same assignee as this application. To this end it is necessary to dimension the slots 15 and 16 so that if a bagged product is positioned on the locator 10, with the bags neck gathered and extending through the slots, is placed within a vacuum chamber and subjected to vacuum the gas or air in the bag may pass outwardly through the gathered bags neck. At the same time the slots should be dimensioned to maintain the bag in gathered condition for subsequent closing. The product locator is also particularly designed for transverse transportation of a bagged product with the bags neck extending transverse to the direction of transport on a conveyor belt. The locator would be attached to the conveyor belt.

Turning now to the specie of the invention shown in FIG. 2, to the extent the parts are equivalent the same numbers used with respect to the specie of FIG. 1 will be used to identify equivalent parts except the sufiix letter A will be applied to them. The apparatus 10A has a first end means 12A, a cradle means 13A and a second end means 14A. The first end means 12A includes two slots 15A and 16A. Slot 16A is in first slotted element 18A and slot 15A is in second slotted element 19A. The slotted element 18A includes two arms 20A and 21A and a bight portion 22A which joins the arms together. The slot 19A includes two arms 24A and 25A and a bight portion 26A which joins them together. The two slotted elements 18A and 19A are spaced apart with a dimension admitting a bag closing means therebetween. The two slots 15A and 16A in the spaced apart slotted elements are aligned and dimensioned to position and hold the bags neck suspended therebetween in gathered condition.

The cradle means 13A includes the forward curved around ends of the frame members 30A and 31A that are attached to the slotted element 18A and the lower portion or extension of the element 18A. That portion of the conveyor belt 51 adjacent to the extension 50 and within the confines of the frame members 30A and 31A is, broadly speaking, also a part of the cradle means 13A. The locator 10A is secured to the conveyor belt 51 by appropriate means such as bolts 52 and 53.

The second end means 14A includes a second cradle means formed by the generally inwardly bowed ends of the frame members 30A and 31A where they join with frame members 54 and 55 and a raised element 40A. The second cradle means in a broad sense also includes the region of the conveying belt 51 between adjacent element 40A and between frame members 54 and 55. The central region of the belt 51, within the confines of the locator 10A, provides an intennediate supporting means for supporting the bagged product between the first cradle means 13A and the second cradle means or end means 14A. In other general attributes, the apparatus 10A has the same general structural and functional relationship between and within its parts as that of the apparatus 10 and thus all of these relationships will not be detailed again.

Turning now to the specie of the invention shown in FIG. 3, to the extent the parts are equivalent the same numbers used with respect to the specie of FIG. 1 will be used to identify equivalent parts except the suffix letter B will be applied to themfThe apparatus 103 has a first end means 128, a cradle means 138 and a second end means 143. The first end means includes a slot 16B in slotted element 183 which makes up the slot means for positioning the bag neck. The slotted element 188 includes two arms 20B and 21B and a bight portion 228 which joins the arms together. The slot 168 is dimensioned to hold the bags neck in gathered condition.

The cradle means 13B includes a concave sheet material portion having a scalloped region 61 with a frame member or portion 62 under the scalloped area of the region 61. The first cradle member of cradle means 138 is the formed sheet material portion of concave sheet 60 that depends from a portion of the upstanding slotted element 188. This portion of the sheet 60 slopes downwardly and outwardly therefrom from the element 18B.The frame member 62 is connected to the lower end or the extension of the element 188.

The second end means 148 includes a second cradle means formed by the two upstanding crown members 63 and 64 and the area of the formed sheet 60 therebetween. The area between the second end means 14B and the cradle-means 13B forms an intermediate means supporting the bagged product therebetween. The horizontal sheet material member 62 connects the element 18B with the cradles. Of course the concaved faced sheet member 60 is also joined by its upper end to the element 18B. To the extent equivalent structure is present the general attributes of the structural and functional relationships between and within the parts of the apparatus 10B is the same as that in apparatus 10 and therefore its detailing will not be repeated.

Turning now to the specie of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, to the extent the parts are equivalent the same numbers used with respect to the specie of FIG. 1 will be used to identify equivalent parts except the suffix letter C will be applied to them. The

apparatus 10C has a first end means 12C, a cradle means 13C and a second end means 14C. The first end means includes two slots 15C and 16C. Slot 16C is in a first slotted element 18C and slot 15C is in a second slotted element 19C. The slotted element 18C includes two arms 20C and 21C and a bight portion 22C which joins the arms together. The slot 19C includes two arms 24C and 25C and a bight portion 26C which joins them together. The two slotted elements 18C and 19C are spaced apart with a dimension admitting a bag closing means which is here illustrated as the end of a clipper such as the clipper shown in copending application Disclosure 691 previously referred to in this application. The two slots 15C and 16C in the spaced apart slotted elements are aligned and dimensioned to hold the bags neck suspended therebetween in gathered condition. Rubber bumper elements 71 and 72 may be installed on the locator as shown in FIG. 5 to prevent chafing or cutting of the bags neck when an operator pulls down hard when positioning a bag on the locator as shown in phantom line in FIG. 5.

The cradle means 13C includes the concaved formed sheet material 73 in the region depending from a portion of the second element 18C and sloping downwardly and outwardly therefrom and having a scalloped intermediate area 74. It may be seen that the cradle means 13C is at least partially below the slot elements 18C and 19C and in particular as these elements define the slots 15C and 16C.

The second end means 14C includes two spaced apart upwardly directed and upwardly extending crown members 76 and 77 forming with the portion of the sheet material 73 extending therebetween a cradle for the outer end of the bagged product. The intermediate regions of the sheet material member 73 provide an intermediate means supporting the bagged product between the first cradle means 13C and the second cradle means or end means 14C. A horizontal sheet material member 75 connects the elements 18C and 19C and the cradles 13C and 14C into a unitary locator. The sheet material members may be connected together by brazing or other appropriate means. The first element 19C and the second element 18C may be seen to be vertically disposed formed sheet material and both the first and second cradle member or portion may also be seen to be formed from sheet material. Aluminum sheeting is ideal material from which to form these sheet portions.

For purposes of illustration to demonstrate the use of the locators a bag 80 is shown in phantom line in FIGS. 5 and 6 with a poultry product 81 therein. As discussed with respect to previous embodiments the slot means are dimensioned to support and position the neck of the bag in gathered condition with provision for passage of gas or air outwardly through the neck of the bag while maintainingthe bag in position. The slots are dimensioned to provide a rate of gas passage outwardly through the mounted bags neck that will provide an inflation of the bag from internal gas pressure if the outer area of the bag is subjected to a reduced pressure. The slots are carefully dimensioned for the specific bags or groups of bags that are to be mounted on the locators. Thus the slots are dimensioned to provide or allow passage of the air. outwardly through the neck of a bag at a rate providing inflation of the bag from internal air pressure if the outer area of the bag is subjected to vacuum. This condition would arise, for example, if the entire locator with bagged product mounted thereon were placed in a vacuum chamber.

Turning now briefly to the operation of my locator One of the operative features of the bag loader that has not yet been brought out is the sizing of the loader to accommodate poultry of a particular size and hold that sized poultry at an angle as shown in FIG. 6 by line A and A. The poultry is thus positioned so that the tail end is high and thus when the bag has been clip closed and heat shrunk the clip will be positioned or placed away from the prime or breast side of the bird as shown in FIG. 8 improving display appeal in the market place.

The poultry product is positioned by the structure of the cradle means with its tail end raised and with the neck of the bag extending away therefrom at an angle to the first end means such that upon clipping and shrinking the clip will be below the poultrys prime side. This clip position also lessens the danger of the clip damaging adjacent packages during shipment.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the'art that numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for supporting and positioning bagged products comprising:

a. a first end means supporting and positioning the neck of the bag and b. a cradle means supporting and positioning the intermediate portions of the bag wherein said cradle means includes a second end means supporting and positioning the end of the bag at the end of the cradle means opposite the first end means, at least part of said second end means comprises a raised element supporting and positioning the end of the bagged product.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first end means includes two slots in spaced apart slotted elements, said slots aligned and dimensioned to hold the bag neck suspended therebetween in gathered condition, said cradle means at least partly below said slots,

and looking particularly at FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be understood that a method has been provided by which an operator cradles a bagged product on the locator 10C for transportation. The operator positions the product containing area of the bag in the product supporting area of the locator 10C which would be generally defined by the cradles 13C and 14C and the area therebetween or formed sheet 73. The operator gathers the neck of the bag by grasping it with his hands and pushing the neck down into the slots 15C and 16C which provide further gathering of the neck and hold the neck at two spaced apart areas leaving the neck exposed therebetween. These two spaced apart gathered neck areas are thus secured in this condition for transportation. It may be seen that the bagged product is cradled for transportation transverse to the direction the exposed neck extends as it passes between the two spaced apart areas where it is held in gathered condition. The product is cradled between the cradles 13C and 14C so that its own weight wedges it in position beyond the gathered neck areas.

said second end means including a second cradle means supporting and positioning the end of the bagged product and intermediate means supporting the bagged product between the first said cradle means and said second cradle means.

3. An apparatus for supporting and positioning a bagged product with respect to vacuumizing and bag closing means comprising a first element, a slot in said first element, a second element and a slot in said second element, said elements spaced apart with a dimension admitting a bag closing means therebetween, and a bagged product support means beyond one of said elements with respect to said other element, said bagged product support means having a first cradle member adjacent to the closer of said element and a second cradle member beyond said cradle member with respect to said elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said elements and said cradles comprise formed wire material.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first element and said second element are vertically disposed formed sheet material, said first cradle member is formed sheet material depending from a portion of said second element and sloping downwardly and outwardly therefrom and having a scalloped intermediate area, and said second cradle member is formed sheet material having two spaced apart upwardly directed crown members forming therebetween a cradle for the end of said bagged product, and said apparatus including a horizontal sheet material connecting said elements and said cradles. 

1. An apparatus for supporting and positioning bagged products comprising: a. a first end means supporting and positioning the neck of the bag and b. a cradle means supporting and positioning the intermediate portions of the bag wherein said cradle means includes a second end means supporting and positioning the end of the bag at the end of the cradle means opposite the first end means, at least part of said second end means comprises a raised element supporting and positioning the end of the bagged product.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first end means includes two slots in spaced apart slotted elements, said slots aligned and dimensioned to hold the bag neck suspended therebetween in gathered condition, said cradle means at least partly below said slots, said second end means including a second cradle means supporting and positioning the end of the bagged product and intermediate means supporting the bagged product between the first said cradle means and said second cradle means.
 3. An apparatus for supporting and positioning a bagged product with respect to vacuumizing and bag closing means comprising a first element, a slot in said first element, a second element and a slot In said second element, said elements spaced apart with a dimension admitting a bag closing means therebetween, and a bagged product support means beyond one of said elements with respect to said other element, said bagged product support means having a first cradle member adjacent to the closer of said element and a second cradle member beyond said cradle member with respect to said elements.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said elements and said cradles comprise formed wire material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first element and said second element are vertically disposed formed sheet material, said first cradle member is formed sheet material depending from a portion of said second element and sloping downwardly and outwardly therefrom and having a scalloped intermediate area, and said second cradle member is formed sheet material having two spaced apart upwardly directed crown members forming therebetween a cradle for the end of said bagged product, and said apparatus including a horizontal sheet material connecting said elements and said cradles. 